If you were looking for a hero in the sports world, the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes provided.
One of the things that often separates the good from the great in the competitive world is desire and heart. Those things can’t be measured by a stop watch or a scale, but if you watch the running of the Triple Crown’s middle jewel, you quickly see what champions are made of.
Entering the Preakness Stakes, Journalism looked to be the class of a solid nine horse field. Yes, the Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, was absent, however a rough trip in that race had cost Journalism his desired stalking position early. A valiant second in the Run for the Roses did not tarnish the image of this Mike McCarthy trained Santa Anita Derby champion. Heading to Pimlico Race Course, he still was thought of as the best in this current three-year-old crop.
A quick perusal of the recent past tells us this son of Curlin had been the Kentucky Derby favorite too. As has been long established, in a horse race of this magnitude, ANYTHING can happen. So, when the gates opened for this historic run at Old Hilltop, would Journalism be able to write himself into the history books, or would he be edited again?
As the runners galloped over the Maryland dirt on May 17, it looked early as if this son of Curlin might be cut from the copy. Again, Journalism was shuffled back on the break and was running a crowded sixth along the rail through the first three quarters of a mile in this mile and three sixteenths race. Winning races like the Preakness are usually never easy and with a wall of horses ahead of him, the desire was about to be determined as the runners rolled around the far turn.
With the quick-footed Gosger assuming the lead at the top of the stretch, things looked bleak for Journalism. Proving the pen is truly mightier than the sword, jockey Umberto Rispoli urged Journalism through a tiny gap between horses. As the runners traded paint and the riders exchanged elbows, this heroic horse made his way into the clear with nothing now between him and the longshot leader. Moving as one, there was little doubt as to the pure determination displayed by jock and runner. But could they run down that free-wheeling front runner?
With Gosger in his sights and the wire rapidly approaching it was now all about the heart. Gobbling up ground at an amazing rate, Journalism lengthened his stride and miraculously decreased distance with every jump. Understanding his role as the best horse in the race, the brilliance of preparation by trainer Mike McCarthy was on full display. Refusing to lose, Journalism found that extra gear and got up just in time.
The half length score netted Team Journalism $1.2 million and raised his record to five wins, ,a second and a third in seven career starts. For the rest of us it provided a glimpse of gladiator greatness and defined the beauty of the Thoroughbred racing game. It will be documented that Journalism was the winner of this milestone race. But what will really be remembered is the way in which it was written.
